Five Domains, Multiple Realities: A Multidimensional Analysis of Equine Welfare in Equestrian Events in Brazil.

Five Domains, Multiple Realities: A Multidimensional Analysis of Equine Welfare in Equestrian Events in Brazil

Objective and Context of the Study

• The study investigates welfare assessments at traditional equestrian events in Brazil, focusing on horse welfare during vaquejada and gaited horse competitions.
• It uses the Five Domains Model (5DMs), a framework for evaluating animal welfare, adapting it to local conditions and resource availability to improve relevance and accuracy.

The Five Domains Model and Subdomains (sDMs)

• The 5DMs model assesses animal welfare across five key areas: nutrition, environment, health, behavior, and mental state.
• This study further stratified the 5DMs into subdomains (sDMs) tailored specifically for the equestrian events studied.
• Adaptations were made so the assessments would reflect Brazilian local conditions and resource constraints, enhancing practical application.

Methodology

• Assessments were conducted at eight competitions: three vaquejada events and five gaited horse competitions.
• Evaluation sessions occurred during different times of day – morning, afternoon, and evening – over two or more days to capture variability.
• Assessment scores were assigned on a five-level scale (1 = very poor to 5 = excellent).
• Evaluators were trained to ensure consistent and reliable scoring across events and domains.

Results and Key Findings

• Overall, the welfare level of horses was rated as good or excellent across all Five Domains, suggesting generally positive conditions at these events.
• However, in the health domain, 2.8% of horses received “very poor” or “poor” welfare ratings, indicating some concern.
• Stratification by event showed that health domain sDMs recorded the highest frequency of scores below “fair” (n=12), pointing to health as the most problematic domain.
• Other domains with notable lower scores included environment (specifically stall conditions) with four subdomains scoring below “fair,” and nutrition with two subdomains scoring below “fair.”
• This pattern of scores is reflective of the collective welfare status across all events analyzed.

Implications and Conclusion

• The adapted Five Domains Model with its subdomains (sDMs) provides a useful exploratory framework for preliminary equine welfare assessment in equestrian events.
• This approach is applicable regardless of the competition’s level, scale, or quality, making it versatile and practical for various contexts.
• The model highlights areas needing improvement, especially health, environment (stall conditions), and nutrition, guiding future interventions.
• Overall, the study supports the adoption of multidimensional welfare assessments to ensure the well-being and quality of life of equine athletes at competitive events.